AVON PARK — A suspect in the 2001 stabbing murder of a Lake Placid man remained in Highlands County Jail without bond Monday after he was extradited from Madison County. Juan Tirso Perez, now 26, also known as Juan Tirso Marin and Juan Tirso Marin-Perez, was booked in at 9 p.m. Friday on a charge of second-degree murder as a suspect in the stabbing death of Sergio Jose Morales, according to sheriff's central records. According to the arrest narrative, it was about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 19, 2001, when Morales was stabbed to death in his trailer home at 303 Highlands Blvd., in Lake Placid. ...more

June 2, 2008

AVON PARK — Spotting your opponent five runs is never a wise decision, but Travis Crosson Tree Service likes to live dangerously. The Avon Park team rallied from a deep hole to beat Wells Roofing, Inc. 13-5 during the opening day of the Avon Park Dixie Boys (ages 13-14) Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Durrah Martin Sports Recreational Complex. ...more

June 1, 2008

SEBRING — After losing a one-run game to Pool Paradise to fall into the loser's bracket during the Dixie Majors (ages 10-12) city tournament on Thursday night, Rotary bounced back in a big way as Brandon Ferretti had two hits and two RBI in a 10-0 four-inning victory over Elks on Friday night at Max Long Complex. "The kids answered in a big way after losing a tough game against Pool Paradise," said Rotary coach Bobby Cannon. "Our pitching was outstanding and we swung the bats real well." ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING — After watching Lions maul Highlands Today by 12 runs an elimination game on Friday night, Pool Paradise used a potent offense and stellar pitching to knock out the Lions 11-1 in the Dixie Majors city tournament at Max Long Complex. The win put undefeated Pool Paradise, the No. 1 seed, into Saturday night's championship game against once-beaten Rotary, the No. 3 seed. ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING — The game was on the line, and a season's worth of wins were in the balance, but Pool Paradise coach Dean Frazier wasn't worried with the game tied and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. ...more

May 30, 2008

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man May 16, who they say is responsible for 15 burglaries dating to April. ...more

May 24, 2008

SEBRING — A Lake Placid motorcyclist was killed late Sunday afternoon after he reportedly rode into the path of a southbound Ford Aerostar van, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release. ...more

May 19, 2008

SEBRING — Progress Energy restored power to 2,000 customers in Sebring two hours after a transformer malfunctioned Sunday afternoon. The power outage affected Washington Heights and parts of downtown Sebring, Progress Energy spokesman Buddy Eller said. ...more

May 11, 2008

The Sebring baseball team moved one step closer to a return trip to the state final four on Friday night. Senior Adam Simmons struck out four in a gutsy complete-game performance to lead the Blue Streaks to a 3-2 victory over Riverdale in the opening game of a Class 4A regional final series at Riverdale High School. ...more

May 9, 2008

AVON PARK — Connie Hodge and her kids expected her son Jeffrey Porter II to "fly over" any minute Monday afternoon. At 12:45, Porter's half-brother, Marc Hodge, got a text message from him. "He's in Lake Wales, he's on his way," he shouted from his car as he sat there. Only 15 minutes later, a large, green MH-53/J Pave Low armored helicopter came from the north, swooped down low and circled the family's Pleasant Street home. ...more

May 5, 2008